Donovan photographed everyone from Princess Diana to a naked Julie Christie, and models such as Twiggy and Naomi Campbell. In the process, the son of a lorry driver from East London became a self-made millionaire.

A judo practice target

While a big star in the arts world -- Donovan's multifarious roles included directing Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love video in the mid-80s -- he was usually little more than a humble judo player within the Budokwai.

"He was just Terence, the man that turned up to judo practice," Diana recalled. "They knew who he was and he was very dynamic but there he could just be him.

"He took it very seriously. He was a Buddhist so this was all part of the mindset. He took it up much more seriously during our married life of 26 years."

Photos:Judo through the lens

Judo through the lens – Born into a life of judo, International Judo Federation photographer Jack Willingham goes through his work, picking out his favorite images and explaining why he loves the sport.

Hide Caption

1 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Ilias Iliadis vs. Kiril Denisov – "I have been a judo fan all my life," says Willingham. "I was a volunteer at the Athens 2004 Olympics in the judo and watched Ilias Iliadis win Olympic gold at 17 years old (I was 16 at the time). So for me, it has been amazing to be able to document the ups and downs of his career so closely. He is one of the most spectacular judokas, when he's on the mat something extraordinary invariably happens! He is also one of my favorite judoka of all time. I have two shots of him that I particularly like. This is at the 2011 World Championships in Paris, which he would go on to win to become a double world champion. In the semifinal against one of his great rivals Kiril Denisov, he threw with this incredible Ura Nage for ippon to put him into the final."

Hide Caption

2 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Ilias Iliadis vs. Noel Van T End – "Not such an historic moment, but one of my favorite action shots ever. Both men clear of the mat, in mid air, this is Iliadis throwing Noel Van T End with Uchi Mata to win the 2014 Dusseldorf Grand Prix."

Hide Caption

3 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Maljinda Kelmendi – Maljinda Kelmendi has been one of the most dominant judokas on the planet over the last four years," says Willingham. "This is partly thanks to the efforts of the International Judo Federation and its president Marius Vizer, who recognized Kosovo as a nation on the judo circuit. The International Olympic Committee accepted Kosovo into the Games in time for Rio 2016, allowing her to become the first ever Olympic gold medalist from that country. This shot is her leaving the tatami after the Olympic final, completely overcome with emotion, her coach Driton Kuka in the background, also with tears in his eyes."

Hide Caption

4 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Maljinda Kelmendi and Thomas Bach – "The second shot I am proud of as it's IOC president Thomas Bach awarding Kelmendi her medal. Once again it's historic, but I also took a risk and snuck around to the side to see both of their faces and managed to find a gap between two of the medal hostesses to get the exact shot I wanted. This also meant I'm sure I'm the only person in the world with this image!"

Hide Caption

5 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Rafaela Silva – Hailing from Cidade de Deus -- featured in the award-winning film the City of God -- Rafaela Silva is another judoka that boasts an amazing story. Here she is celebrating becoming world champion in Rio in 2013.

Hide Caption

6 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Rafaela Silva – "This is effectively the same shot as the previous one, when she won Brazil's first gold medal at the Rio Olympics! Although not quite the same angle, I loved the symmetry."

Hide Caption

7 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Kayla Harrison – "I have a great friendship with Kayla Harrison, so for her to pick me out and strike a pose as she won her second Olympic title in Rio was really cool. She's a great character, and probably the most determined and mentally tough athlete I've come across."

Hide Caption

8 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

David Larose – This image is in because I love working in Paris. The iconic Bercy Stadium (as it was called then) has the best public, atmosphere and energy of any tournament in the world. This picture is France's David Larose celebrating after winning the Paris Grand Slam in 2013. I love the story it tells: Larose ecstatic standing over a distraught Davaadorj Tumurkhuleg, the scoreboard reading ippon and the crowd going mad.

Hide Caption

9 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Lee Kyu Won vs. Masashi Nishiyama – "This throw from the -90kg final of the 2012 Tokyo Grand Slam final by former world champion Lee Kyu Won against Masashi Nishiyama to me really shows how much drive with the legs Lee needs to finish the throw off. I love the expression on his face, I love the flailing arms of Nishiyama trying to scramble to avoid the inevitable, there's so much in this one. It is one my favorites on image alone but, for me, it holds a special place in my heart because 2012 was the first time I had ever been to Japan, the home of judo, and it was my first visit to the legendary Tokyo Grand Slam. So to come away with such a great shot made it all the more special."

Hide Caption

10 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Kaori Matsumoto – "This is a portrait of Olympic and double world champion Kaori Matsumoto. One of the most feared athletes in women's judo, her nickname is the assassin. This is her waiting to come out to fight in the Tokyo Grand Slam final. I love the intensity and the focus this image portrays."

Hide Caption

11 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Shohei Ono – Shohei Ono is now an Olympic and double world champion at -73kg. But in 2013, he had none of those titles. This is him throwing France's Ugo Legrand for ippon in the 2013 World Championship final to become world champion for the first time. If I could choose only one picture to define my career, it would be this. Legrand is so perfectly vertical, which you rarely see in judo... let alone in a world championship final. This was the birth of a legend.

Hide Caption

12 of 13

Photos:Judo through the lens

Teddy Riner – "This shot is in for a number of reasons. Teddy Riner is now unquestionably the greatest judoka of all time. Double Olympic and nine-time world champion (he's going for his tenth in November), so he had to be in my list for that. This is also in Paris, in front of his home crowd at the Grand Slam. It's a massive Uchi Mata (one of judo's classical techniques) and it's not all that often you see the men in the +100kg (some of them upwards of 150kg) launched so high and with such precision."

Hide Caption

13 of 13

Donovan was no slouch on the judo mat either, earning his black belt in his forties.

His passion was such that he got his children involved with going to the club, and he would even try to persuade his reluctant wife to act as a practice judoka.

"He would talk about it very animatedly," she explained. "If he could persuade me, he'd try to grab my clothes and get me involved in practicing, which I did my utmost to avoid! Otherwise I'd end up flat on the floor!"

Inside the Budokwai, reminders of Donovan remain, pictures taken of him and by him still adorning the walls of a place he frequented until the final months of his life.

JUST WATCHED

Ryoko Tani: The greatest female judoka ever

MUST WATCH

Many of his fellow judoka continue to practice and compete more than two decades after his death, including Peter Blewett, a close friend and a man who has been the club's chief instructor throughout that time.

Blewett was a university student when he first met Donovan, their sole initial common ground being a love of judo.

"When I was a student and skint, he'd help with opportunities," says Blewett. "He got me a job as an extra as a carpet fitter in a KitKat advert, which was a life-changing amount of money for me then.

"He did that for me personally but I know he did it for others too. He'd put his hands in his pockets and expect nothing in return. He was just a lovely bloke."

Protecting Princess Diana

Inside the four walls of the Budokwai, Donovan simply referred to himself as "the fat bloke in the corner," Blewett said. But such self-deprication belied his skill as a judoka.

"He found the judo liberating and was willing to take on all comers," he adds. "In fact, he was just interested in all comers through the door whether it was a bus driver or an art historian."

Blewett helped train him for his black belt, for which he had to win two preliminary fights and then three fights back-to-back in quick succession. "Terry was a big man so he'd get tired so what he did was very impressive to get that black belt."

JUST WATCHED

CNN Judo World Japan Trailer

MUST WATCH

CNN Judo World Japan Trailer00:30

Donovan would return the favor by inviting his fellow judoka into the world of celebrity. Blewett recalls being asked, along with a number of others, to to act as additional bodyguards to Princess Diana, who had become a good friend of Donovans.

"It was surreal meeting her Metropolitan Police bodyguards," he says. "We escorted her at this charity event from the Royal Box to the dancefloor. The Three Degrees were playing and I remember clearing the way saying 'Princess Diana coming through.'

"There was a point where Ringo Starr was blocking the way and I remember thinking 'Ringo Starr's surely not a security threat!' It was just one of the odd opportunities that Terry created for us.

Although Blewett was not directly involved in the book "Fighting Judo," he would lend the occasional word of advice. He was also asked to look over potential photographs as he was for Glances -- a more risqué set of pictures away from judo.